1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1

A Lifelong Project, This '69 Mach 1 Helps...

Wayne Cook

June 15, 2010

Photos By:
Jim Smart

Perry Crawford of Valley Springs, California, has grown more than comfortable with his '69 Mustang Mach 1. After all, he's had about 25 years to get used to the power, comfort, and style offered by this popular incarnation of the SportsRoof Mustang. Like many of us, Perry fell in love with Mustangs at an early age. He describes the car as a lifelong project that began when his father helped him buy the then bone stock Mach 1 when he was only 18 years old. From that point on, his love for the car has grown by leaps and bounds and he says that this "dream of a car" has always been a big part of his life. Over the years, the Mach 1 has clearly changed as Perry's personal taste began to transform the Mustang, and one of the major changes can't be seen unless you open the hood.

Back in 1969 if you ordered a Mach 1 from your local Ford dealer you had a choice of three different engines. The minimum choice was the new-for-the-year 351 Windsor engine, in either 2V or 4V trim. Similar to the existing 302 engine, it gained its additional displacement by using a taller deck height. The next choice up the performance ladder was the 390 FE big-block. Sometimes called the Thunderbird V-8, 1969 would be the last year for availability of the 390 in the Mustang. The top of the performance heap for that year's Mach 1 was the continuation of the 1968 NHRA Winter Nationals-winning engine, the infamous 428 Cobra Jet. However, the one engine that was not available among them was the engine Perry was most interested in, the 351 Cleveland.

In 1970, the Cleveland became available in the Mustang, in both 2V and 4V versions; so dropping a fresh canted-valve Cleveland into the '69 body wasn't much of a stretch. The improved performance theme has been carried out throughout the car with vastly improved suspension, braking, and safety enhancements.

It also seems that Perry has a knack for spreading the Mustang bug around because now his wife, Stephanie, is a dedicated Mustang enthusiast, and he would like to thank her for all of her support over the years when it came to the subject of Mustang madness. Together, Perry and Stephanie use their car for pleasure outings every chance they get. After seeing the pleasure that Perry and Stephanie derived from the ownership of their Mustang, Perry's brother has joined the club with the purchase of a '66 Mustang coupe. The dominos began to fall as next, his brother-in-law bought a '65 Mustang hardtop, while his boss went out and bought a '66 Mustang 2+2. It seems clear that Perry's love and enthusiasm for Mustangs is truly contagious and we applaud his efforts both in spreading the classic Ford hobby and for the creation of this uniquely modified Mustang.